Lahore: Under the auspices of Alkhidmat Foundation Pakistan, a special ceremony was held in Lahore to honor street children.During the event, children from the seven Alkhidmat Child Protection Centers in Lahore were presented with school bags, stationery, uniforms, gifts and school shoes, enabling them to begin their formal educational journey.The ceremony was attended by Syed Ihsanullah Waqas, Vice President of Alkhidmat Foundation, Dr. Ahmed Jabran, National Director of Education, Zubair Siddiqui, Regional Director, along with other officials, education experts, and prominent personalities from various walks of life.Speaking on the occasion, Syed Ihsanullah Waqas emphasized that the purpose of the Child Protection Centers is to transform street children into valuable members of society through formal and non-formal education and training. He highlighted the alarming figure of approximately 1.3 million street children in Pakistan, who, due to governmental neglect and societal indifference, are forced t o live and work on the streets instead of attending school or being at home.'Alkhidmat Foundation is taking steps to safeguard this national asset and to return their lost childhood,' he said. He added that the Child Protection Centers are a part of the Foundation's education initiative. These centers provide daily two-hour sessions for children involved in collecting garbage, working in workshops, or employed in households. The program offers not only formal and informal education but also teaches hygiene, manners, social interaction, dining etiquette, and includes recreational activities for the children.Dr. Ahmed Jabran, National Director of Education at Alkhidmat Foundation, shared that currently, 86 Child Protection Centers are operational across all four provinces of Pakistan, serving a total of 3,633 underprivileged and destitute street children. He noted that these centers focus not just on education, but also on character-building and moral training.At the end of the ceremony, children performe d national songs and educational skits, which were warmly appreciated by the audience. Attendees, including education experts and notable personalities from various fields, lauded Alkhidmat's initiative and pledged their full support for the mission.